James 'Whitey' Bulger's defense asks for trial delay

The defense team for reputed mobster James "Whitey" Bulger wants the opening statements of the trial delayed.

In an early Monday morning filing, defense attorneys said they want to conduct an investigation into what prosecutors knew about the alleged criminal activities of one of the government's star witnesses.

Former Bulger associate John Martorano has admitted to his role in more than 20 murders. He's currently waiting to testify against Bulger.

Reasons why potential Bulger jurors were excused

Reasons why potential Bulger jurors were excused

Here are some of the problems cited by potential jurors who were then excused from sitting on the trial of reputed gangster James "Whitey" Bulger.

Man who said wife is pregnant and past her due date.

Woman who said she has depression, swollen ankles, knees.

Man who said he knew the widow of one of Bulger's alleged victims.

Traveling sales representative who said serving on the jury would pose a financial hardship for him.

Woman who said she had a business conference and a five-day trip to California planned.

Woman who said she is self-employed as a landscape designer and depends on her busy summer season.

Woman who said she had formed an opinion that "there was some guilt there" after reading media reports about Bulger's claim that he had received immunity.

Man who said he had formed an opinion based on news accounts he read that Bulger is likely guilty.

Woman whose brother was killed in what media reports described as a "gangland-style" slaying in 1963. She also said U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz is married to her husband's cousin.

Woman who became emotional when describing how she needs to take care of her dog, who has no use of his back legs.

Woman who cited her mortgage, said she can't afford to serve on a jury for months.

Woman who said her boyfriend knows one of the police officers involved in the case. Prosecutors say the officer is not on their witness list, but woman says she would be more likely to believe a police officer than other people.

"Consistent with his attempts to pretend he was immunized and to pretend he was not an informant, Bulger now pretends he has 'discovered' some shocking discovery violation. In fact, the government hand delivered these documents to the defense almost a month ago," the government said in its filing opposing a trial delay.

"The anonymous allegations against a witness (John Martorano) who has already admitted participating in multiple murders, have been thoroughly debunked after an extensive investigation," the government continued.

The prosecution said the anonymous tipster is a "disgruntled Massachusetts State trooper who falsely accused another Massachusetts state trooper of ignoring the allegations against Martorano."

"If Whitey Bulger goes to trial and is convicted, we would certainly expect that one of the arguments he would make down the road is that his lawyers didn't have adequate time to prepare, and they would point to this type of material as evidence if that," said David Frank of Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly.

Reasons why potential Bulger jurors were excused

Reasons why potential Bulger jurors were excused

Here are some of the problems cited by potential jurors who were then excused from sitting on the trial of reputed gangster James "Whitey" Bulger.

Man who said wife is pregnant and past her due date.

Woman who said she has depression, swollen ankles, knees.

Man who said he knew the widow of one of Bulger's alleged victims.

Traveling sales representative who said serving on the jury would pose a financial hardship for him.

Woman who said she had a business conference and a five-day trip to California planned.

Woman who said she is self-employed as a landscape designer and depends on her busy summer season.

Woman who said she had formed an opinion that "there was some guilt there" after reading media reports about Bulger's claim that he had received immunity.

Man who said he had formed an opinion based on news accounts he read that Bulger is likely guilty.

Woman whose brother was killed in what media reports described as a "gangland-style" slaying in 1963. She also said U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz is married to her husband's cousin.

Woman who became emotional when describing how she needs to take care of her dog, who has no use of his back legs.

Woman who cited her mortgage, said she can't afford to serve on a jury for months.

Woman who said her boyfriend knows one of the police officers involved in the case. Prosecutors say the officer is not on their witness list, but woman says she would be more likely to believe a police officer than other people.

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